Behavioral tolerance is a hallmark of exposure to most drugs of abuse. It is characterized by reduced drug effects over time, either via altered metabolism of the drug, or functionally, whereby the effects of the drug decrease in spite of unaltered concentration. Indeed, the presence of enhanced acute behavioral tolerance in humans can serve as a marker for the likelihood of a future development of alcoholism. The large conductance potassium ion channel (BK) has become increasingly recognized as an important target of alcohol action, both in the intoxicating actions of the drug, as well as in adaptation to the drug (tolerance). This proposal is based upon exciting new data which identifies the BK channel beta4 subunit as an important mediator of alcohol tolerance and consumption, and provides an animal model to examine the relationship between molecular and behavioral tolerance, and consumption. We will make use of genetically engineered mice, in which the beta4 subunit is either present or """"""""knocked out"""""""".
In Aim 1, we test the hypothesis that BK beta4 influences acute tolerance via a mechanism involving kinases and associated signaling pathways. Electrophysiological experiments will probe the role of kinases in BK acute tolerance in expression systems and in neurons of the striatum, which is important in drug reward and addiction.
In Aim 2, we test the hypothesis (based upon preliminary data) that beta4's influence on rapid tolerance will not be as pronounced as in acute tolerance. These studies will utilize electrophysiological, molecular biology, and imaging techniques, and will probe at the molecular, cellular, and behavioral levels.
Aim 2 will include studies on the role of beta4 in the finding, described in our preliminary data that in striatal neurons, there is a """"""""switch"""""""" which is activated after 3 to 6 hrs of alcohol exposure, which radically changes the duration of tolerance after alcohol withdrawal. This has implications for the development of alcohol dependency as a function of drinking habits. Finally, in Aim 3, we test the hypothesis that beta4's influence on alcohol consumption will reflect influences on behavioral parameters such as alcohol preference and reward, both known to influence consumption. A two bottle choice variant of the """"""""drinking in the dark"""""""" (DID) paradigm will be utilized to measure ethanol vs. water preference in beta4 KO and WT mice. In addition, we will measure the rewarding properties of ethanol in WT and beta4 KO mice using a conditioned place preference (CPP) assay. Together, these experiments will help identify the role of the beta4 subunit and acute tolerance in motivational behaviors underlying alcohol consumption.

Public Health Relevance

Alcoholism represents one of the most important problems in the public health arena. Tolerance, which develops with alcohol use, may be related to the development of drug dependency and addiction. In this proposal, we pursue exciting new data which indicates a role for the BK channel beta4 subunit protein in the control of alcohol tolerance and consumption.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AA018038-03
Application #
7690954
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZAA1-CC (03))
Program Officer
Liu, Qi-Ying
Project Start
2008-09-30
Project End
2013-08-31
Budget Start
2009-09-01
Budget End
2010-08-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$318,750
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Puerto Rico Med Sciences
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
948108063
City
San Juan
State
PR
Country
United States
Zip Code
00936
Marrero, Héctor G; Treistman, Steven N; Lemos, José R (2015) Ethanol Effect on BK Channels is Modulated by Magnesium. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 39:1671-9
Yuan, Chunbo; Velázquez-Marrero, Cristina; Bernardo, Alexandra et al. (2014) Lipids modulate the increase of BK channel calcium sensitivity by the ?1 subunit. PLoS One 9:e107917
Velázquez-Marrero, Cristina; Seale, Garrett E; Treistman, Steven N et al. (2014) Large conductance voltage- and Ca2+-gated potassium (BK) channel ?4 subunit influences sensitivity and tolerance to alcohol by altering its response to kinases. J Biol Chem 289:29261-72
Velázquez-Marrero, Cristina; Ortiz-Miranda, Sonia; Marrero, Héctor G et al. (2014) ?-Opioid inhibition of Ca2+ currents and secretion in isolated terminals of the neurohypophysis occurs via ryanodine-sensitive Ca2+ stores. J Neurosci 34:3733-42
Yuan, Chunbo; Chen, Maohui; Covey, Douglas F et al. (2011) Cholesterol tuning of BK ethanol response is enantioselective, and is a function of accompanying lipids. PLoS One 6:e27572
Velázquez-Marrero, Cristina; Wynne, Patricia; Bernardo, Alexandra et al. (2011) The relationship between duration of initial alcohol exposure and persistence of molecular tolerance is markedly nonlinear. J Neurosci 31:2436-46
Treistman, Steven N; Martin, Gilles E (2009) BK Channels: mediators and models for alcohol tolerance. Trends Neurosci 32:629-37
Martin, Gilles; O'Connell, Robert J; Pietrzykowski, Andrzej Z et al. (2008) Interleukin-4 activates large-conductance, calcium-activated potassium (BKCa) channels in human airway smooth muscle cells. Exp Physiol 93:908-18
Yuan, Chunbo; O'Connell, Robert J; Wilson, Andrew et al. (2008) Acute alcohol tolerance is intrinsic to the BKCa protein, but is modulated by the lipid environment. J Biol Chem 283:5090-8
Feinberg-Zadek, Paula L; Martin, Gilles; Treistman, Steven N (2008) BK channel subunit composition modulates molecular tolerance to ethanol. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 32:1207-16

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